Help for those who must comply with Europe's 'New Approach'

A fresh series of guides details facts engineers must know when designing products for today's markets in Europe. The rules have changed considerably under the "New Approach" of the European Union (EU) aimed at freeing up the flow of goods among nations. The main question addressed by each guide is: What must be done for a product to receive the CE Marking required for all goods made in or imported into EU's 18-country market? Published by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, the first six guides are for manufacturers of electric appliances, machinery, and medical devices. Each publication includes the text of relevant EU directives along with lists of applicable standards approved by EU. One guide, for example, deals with EU's directive on electromagnetic compatibility, which applies to a wide range of products. You can obtain the guides on the Web at http://ts.nist.gov/ca.

A few weeks ago, Ford Motor Co. quietly announced that it was rolling out a new wrinkle to the powerful safety feature called stability control, adding even more lifesaving potential to a technology that has already been very successful.

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Focus on Fundamentals consists of 45-minute on-line classes that cover a host of technologies. You learn without leaving the comfort of your desk. All classes are taught by subject-matter experts and all are archived. So if you can't attend live, attend at your convenience.